REPORT BY WILL WORBOYS

ILKLEY Harriers had an impressive one-two at the Withins Skyline fell race on Sunday.

Course record holder and winner on several occasions, Tom Adams held off Jack Cummings to again win the 6.3-mile race on Haworth Moor adding the MV40 course record of 40:26 to his list of achievements.

The annual event which is organised by Wharfedale Harriers starts in Penistone quarry and takes in the wuthering moorland of Bronte country, including passing the world famous Top Withins ruined building. Of the 197 runners competing, Harriers’ Tom Mountain and just behind him Charles Wain also managed good runs to finish inside the top fifty.

Onto the road another pair of Harriers made the trip to York to take part in the Run for All Yorkshire Marathon. Both had brilliant runs; Matthew Thackwray finished in 60th position in a time of 2:46:58. Danny Thompson also went well under the 3 hour mark to finish in 2:52:47. Now established as one of the biggest marathons in the north of England over 10,000 runners participated in the traditional 26.2 mile distance which started and finished at the University of York’s Heslington campus. The day also incorporates the Yorkshire 10 mile race in which Pete Evans was the sole representative from Ilkley, finishing in a time 1:44:04.

Across the other side of the Pennines the Manchester Half Marathon took place on Sunday. Renowned for being fast and flat, the race takes in the scenery south of Manchester city centre starting and finishing close to Old Trafford. David Foyston led the way for the Harriers finishing in a time of 1:19:05 and in a position of 194th out of a total 12,906 finishers. Three others from Ilkley made the journey; Lucy Lowe (1:52) and Jonathan Nelson (1:53) Alastair Bateman (1:58), all ran very well to break the 2 hour barrier.

Back on the fells on Saturday Rachel Carter finished 9th female at the Wasdale Head Show fell race in the Lake District. Battling a close to vertical 720 metres of climb in just over 2 miles Iain Gibbons also managed 19th place overall. Robert Carter was 2nd in the Under 12’s race and Sam Bentham also came 2nd in the Under 17’s.

Also in the lakes was Steve Newell who managed an excellent 11th in the Lakeland Trails Ullswater 10K. The race was won by Steve’s son, Matt Newell. The last in this years series of Lakeland trail races, this one is particularly interesting as a boat needs to be taken from Glenridding to the end of Ullswater and then participants run back along scenic trails. The Newell’s took part in the first of several races taking place on the day.

Also on the trails, three Harriers journeyed to the Peak District to take part in the Ladybower Reservoir Half Marathon and Ultra. Lucy Elliott and Nigel Illingworth completed the half, although reported the distance to be considerably longer than the expected 13.1 miles. Robin Moffatt impressively tackled the 50 kilometre ultra-marathon and finished in a time of 7hr 16.

Closer to home, yet another pair from Ilkley took part in the challenging 15 mile Castle Carr fell race. With over 1200 metres of ascent the race takes in many of the steep slopes to the East of Hebden Bridge. Ben Sheppard finished in 13th place just scraping inside 3 hours and Martin Hartley was not far behind in 19th position.

At the weekly Saturday morning 5K parkrun’s there were more impressive runs from club members. Stephen Coy was 3rd finisher of 199 at Brighouse. Jane McCarthy was 2nd female at Skipton. At Lister Park in Bradford Mark Hall finished in 6th position. While at Roberts Park Alexander Wolfenden was 2nd finisher with a cracking PB of 17.43.